By Tennis Now | Friday, September 20, 2019
Benoit Paire subdued fellow Frenchman Gregoire Barrere 7-6(3), 6-4 surging into his fourth semifinal of the season in Metz.
Photo credit: Moselle Open Facebook
Benoit Paire fused a crunching serve and creative flair for angles surging into his fourth semifinal of the season.
Paire pumped 14 aces fighting off fellow Frenchman Gregoire Barrere 7-6(3), 6-4 surging into his fourth semifinal of the season in Metz.
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The lanky Paire served 66 percent, permitted just seven points on first serve and faced only one break point in a clean 79-minute conquest.
The third-seeded Paire will play Aljaz Bedene for a spot in Sunday's final.
Bedene beat former Top 10 player Pablo Carreno Busta, 6-4, 7-5.
The 76th-ranked Slovenian is through to his first semifinal since he reached the final four on the red clay of Rio back in February.
The Bedene vs. Paire semifinal is a rematch of the US Open second round that saw Bedene battle back from two sets down to trim the bearded Frenchman, 4-6, 6-7(3), 6-2, 7-5, 7-6(4). Paire has won four of their six career meetings.
The 30-year-old Paire is playing for his fourth career title and fourth final of the season. The Winston-Salem finalist beat Felix Auger-Aliassime to win Lyon and topped Pablo Andujar in the Marrakech final in March.
No. 4-seeded Frenchman Lucas Pouille rallied past Filip Krajinovic, 4-6, 7-5, 6-2 into his Tour-level semifinal since the Australian Open in January. Pouille saved eight of 11 break points in a two-hour win and will play either Jo-Wilfried Tsonga or second-seeded Nikoloz Basilashvili in the semifinals.